Dean of Cardinals Tagle and the Catholic Pandemic of Sentimentality

 Sentimentality: the indulgent arousal of  emotions (affection-sadness-pity-compassion-nostalgia) in a disconnect from intellect and reality.

"Imagine there's no heaven, It's easy if you try, no hell below us, above us only sky; Imagine all the peoples, living life in peace; You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one, I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one."    John Lennon

In proper degree and context, sentimentality, as emotion disconnected from reality, is not a bad thing. It can be entertainment, rest, refreshment. We know that romantic comedies (Pretty Woman) and thrillers (Jason Bourne) are escapist relaxation, unproblematic in moderation.

Problem: our society... technologized, passive, dependent, inactive, bureaucratic, glued to screens...is increasingly detached from reality and addicted to sentimentality: intentional indulgence of feelings in detachment from reality, purpose and intelligence.

The cult of animals is a case in point. These have their place in the order of things and require the correct respect as useful, delicious, nourishing, beautiful, playful, endearing, interesting and so forth. But everywhere we see gushes of affection that are irrational, embarrassing and ridiculous.

Christmas is saturated with sentimentality: extravagance, saccharine songs (White Christmas, Blue Christmas, I'll Be Home for Christmas). Reality: Jesus' birth in poverty and fragility was accompanied by the slaughter of the Holy Innocents, so many people suffer depression and loneliness at this time, etc.

It is hard to imagine a more ludicrously sentimental song than John Lennon's Imagine, the delusion that if there is no heaven-or-hell we will all live euphorically together on earth. It is hard to imagine a more embarrassing scene than Cardinal Tagle enthusiastically singing this very song.

Cardinal Tagle is our new Dean of the College of Cardinals. This is not a position of real power or governance, but is symbolic and functional. He will convene the college with the death of the pope. But it is a position of immense status in the Church. He was apparently one of a small snumber of Cardinals technically eligible and only one of two (the other being Parolin) young enough to be a realistic choice. Therefore, we need not exaggerate the importance of the choice. Additionally, we admit that often we sing songs that appeal even as we ignore the lyrics, especially in a festive setting.

But the problem is: what we know of the Filipino Prelate is that he strongly represents the toxic sentimentality that permeates Catholicism, especially in the hierarchy and academy. Consider:

1. Church/China Accord.   He strongly supports the current accord between the Vatican and the Chinese Communist Party which has effectively surrendered governance there to the CCP. He seems clueless about the brutality of the regime, its suppression of human and especially religious rights, its blatant imperialistic ambitions, its contempt for the Church.

2. Blessing of Homosexual Unions.  He advocates the normalization of homosexuality. He thus implicitly denies the sin involved. He is oblivious of the repulsive physical/moral/social/spiritual aspects of the disordered act, lifestyle, identity and culture.

3. War and Death Penalty.  He crusades vigorously to eliminate capital punishment and war. He seems blissfully confident that evil forces (Communism, Jihadism, psychopaths, serial killers, Fascists) will succumb to kindness, education, negotiation, and diplomacy.

The elevation of Tagle, known as the "Asian Francis," to this elevated rank is troubling as it manifests the triumph of a sentimental Catholicism. It accentuates empathy, kindness, inclusion, affirmation in an effete retreat from evil, sin, retribution, wrath, truth, order and combat. It is a disconnect from intellect, will, purpose and the Real. Sentimentality at its worst!